Foldable umbrella frame



May 9, 1939. s. ONO

FOLDAB LE UMBRELLA FRAME Filed Sept. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l amen 1100'SONOJI ONO May 9, 1939. N 2,157,670

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA FRAME Filed Sept. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2IIIIlIIlIIlI!'IIII/IIII;II

SONDJ'I ONO Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE UMBRELLA FRAME Sonoji Ono, Ohme-machi,

Nishi Tama-gun,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to folding umbrellas and has special reference tomeans for securing the section forming the ribs and braces of suchumbrella in alined positions.

One important object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby,when a sectional rib in an umbrella of this sort has its sectionsalined, movement to expand the umbrella will effect securing of thesections of such rib in alinement.

Asecond important object of the invention is to provide means wherebyfolding braces in an umbrella of this class may have the sectionssecured in alinement initially before the umbrella has the sections ofits ribs secured in alinement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example ofthe embodiment of the foldable umbrella frame partly broken away toinvention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of this foldable umbrella framepartly broken away to show the interior construction of certain of the pFigure 2, a partial front view of the same with the ribs and stretchersin an open condition;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section partly broken away whichshows manner of connecting the rib and brace or stretcher;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one link of the chain portion to beinserted into the rib;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the condition in which theparts are positioned when the stretcher is folded;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a sliding sleeve or runner used herewith, theview being partly in section;

Figure '7, a front view of the same sliding sleeve partly cut oil andFigure 8 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section and partly inelevation and showing the head or notch member of the umbrella.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers show the same orcorresponding parts.

In the drawings, I indicates in general the stick of an umbrellaconstructed in accordance with this invention. To a crown or notchmember mounted adjacent the tip end of the stick and indicated at 2 ishinged by the ordinary means a plurality of ribs each having a tubularor the like shape and formed from a suitable number of foldable sectionsor parts, for example, three parts 3, 3 and 3", which are connected bymeans of hinges 4 and 4'. In this rib there is inserted a rib axisconsisting of straight stiffening bar portions 5 and i and a chainportion I made by connecting by means of lateral pins a number of unitpieces each of which has the upper sides 6 and lower center 6' cut away(Figures 4 and 5). The chain thus formed neither increases in lengthwhen under tension nor decreases in length when under compression sothat it is preferably termed a constant length chain. 8 is a slit insaid rib l. A pivot ing 9 fastened to the straight bar portion fl of therib axis extends through and is slidable 1n the slit 8. To the ing 9 ishinged the one end of a stretcher II by a pin I 0 or the like. Saidstretcher II has a tubular or the like shape like the rib 3 and isdivided into a suitable number of sections, for instance, II and II',which are connected by means of a hinge I2. In said stretcher isinserted a stretcher axis consisting of straight bar portions I3 and I3and chain portions I4 and I4 made by connecting by pins Ii a desirednumber of chained links which have the upper sides 6 and lower center 6'cutaway, like the rib axis inserted in the rib. The above stretcher I Ihas its rear end hinged to the upper end of a sliding sleeve or runnerI6. Said chain portion I4 extends downwardly into a guide groove I8forming one of a series of guide grooves or members carried by therunner and each opening to the exterior of the runner through arespective slit H which extends in a vertical direction on the slidingsleeve I6, said sliding sleeve I6 being provided on its outer peripherywith a ring I9 which can slide freely on that periphery. Said ring I9 issecured to the chain portion I4 by a pin 20 which projects inwardly ofthat ring. 2| is a hole at the end of the rib which is adapted forattaching a cover. vided on the crown 2; 23, a detachable cover securingpiece and 24, a spring for catching the sliding sleeve. 26 and 25 arecollapsible stick portions; and 21, a handle.

In the operation of the device to expand the umbrella from its folded toits completely unfolded position reference may be had to Figures 1 and2. The first step in unfolding the umbrella is to swing the ribs, intheir folded condition, outwardly until the parts II and II' of thestretchers or braces are brought into alinement. Then the slide I9 ispositioned upwardly on the runner.

22 is a catch spring proplished the ribs are then unfolded until theseveral rib sections are brought into alinement. The runner is is thenpushed upwardly along the staff whereupon the stiffening elements intheribs are moved to span the hinge joints and thus to hold these jointsfrom folding. Thisis accomplished by reason of the lug 9 pushing one ofthe stlfiening rods as 5 outwardly of the rib which, through theconnection of the chain I, also pushes the other stiflening rod 5' ofsaid rib across the hinge Joints 4'.

Obviously the collapsing or folding of the umbrella is accomplished inthe reverse of this manher of expanding. a

I claim:

1. In a folding umbrella, a staff, a head on the upper end thereof, aseries of sectional ribs each consisting of a plurality of hingedlyconnected tubular sections, said ribs being hingedly connected at theirinner ends to said head, a plurality of rib stiffening rods slidable ineach rib to move into and out of position across the joints of the rib,a constant length flexible chain connecting said stiifening rods, saidribs each having one of its sections provided with a slot, and a lugcarried by one of the rods of each rib and projecting through the slotfor movement of said rods in said rib.

2. In a folding umbrella, a staff, a runner slidable on said stafl, aseries of rib braces hinged to the upper end of said runner, each ofsaid braces consisting of a plurality of hingedly connected sectionsia"stiflening rod slidable in each brace into and out of position acrossthe brace joint,

a sliding-ring mounted on said runner, and constant length chains eachhaving one end attached to said ring and its other end attached to arespective brace stiffening rod.

3. In a folding umbrella, a stall, a head on the upper end thereof, aseries of sectional ribs each consisting of a plurality of hingedlyconnected tubular sections, said ribs being hingedly con-y nected attheir inner ends to said head, a plurality of rib. stiflening rodsslidable in each rib to move into and out of position across the jointsof the rib, a constant length flexible chain connecting said stiffeningrods, said ribs each hav ing one of itssections provided with a slot, alug carried by one of therods of each rib and projecting through theslot forv movement of said rods in said rib, a runner slidable on saidstaff, a series of rib braces hinged to the upper end of said runner,each of said braces consisting of a.

